CONVERSION OF METHYL-2-ACETOXY PROPIONATE TO METHYL ACRYLATE AND ACRYLIC ACID

摘要

Disclosed herein is a method that includes contacting (a) a gaseous mixture that includes (i) an inert gas and (ii) a vaporized liquid feed containing methyl-2-acetoxy propionate (MAPA) and an excipient, with (b) a material having a surface acidity of about 5 micromoles per gram (mumol/g) or less and a surface basicity of about 15 mumol/g or less, under conditions sufficient to produce a conversion product that includes methyl acrylate in a molar yield of at least about 85% from MAPA. The excipient is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, formic acid, methyl acetate, lactic acid, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof. This method now makes possible the ability to further process the manufactured methyl acrylate into acrylic acid by either of two general routes that ultimately produce acrylic acid in a molar yield of at least about 80% from methyl acrylate and, preferably, substantially free of propanoic acid.